緊 and 喺度 for ongoing action
Cantonese often uses 緊 or a location-like frame with 喺度 to show an action in progress.
Examples
CantoneseTranslation
我喺度睇書，佢仲緊做功課。Ngo5 hai2dou6 tai2 syu1, keoi5 zung6 gan2 zou6 gung1fo3.
I am here reading, and she is still doing homework.
你做緊乜嘢？Nei5 zou6 gan2 mat1je5?
What are you doing?
我哋喺度等巴士。Ngo5dei6 hai2dou6 dang2 baa1si2.
We are here waiting for the bus.
Pattern
verb + 緊 / 喺度 + verb
How it works
Cantonese often uses 緊 or a location-like frame with 喺度 to show an action in progress. This pattern typically appears as verb + 緊 / 喺度 + verb and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- 緊 often marks ongoing action directly on the verb phrase.
- 喺度 can also help frame something as in progress, especially in speech.
Why it matters
See how Cantonese marks completion, experience, and ongoing action.
Use in context
This is useful because ongoing action is expressed differently from English-style tense marking.